|
To my dear friends and supporters of Dress for Success Charlotte,
Over the past 18 years, words alone cannot adequately express how incredibly proud I am of the LEGACY of empowerment we have built. After the organization shut down in 2005, we came together to execute a new business plan, re-open the doors in 2006, and move forward with expanded workforce development services to include job preparedness, job acquisition, employment retention, and career advancement. Our first full year of resumed operations in 2007 coincided with the Great Recession, a time women in our community needed us most and as evidenced by the increase from 300 unduplicated women to nearly 900 served in a single year. We worked tirelessly during that time and was named by Dress for Success Worldwide as it’s “Rookie of the Year” in recognition of Best Practices in all areas of Operation. In 2010, we moved from an 853 sq. ft., three-room office and closet, to a new state of the art, fully handicap accessible boutique and career transformation center nearly six times the size. We designed and created a space that welcomed our clients, fostering a culture of trust, belief, encouragement, and confidence and with the knowledge they could return as often as they needed and as often as they wanted. Dress for Success Charlotte’s design was recognized with an international Best in Globe award from Shaw Contract and featured in an architectural book published in China that featured commercial and industrial businesses inspiring new ways of working, learning, healing and thriving. Our space is currently featured on more than 100 Dress for Success affiliate websites around the world as a best in class model for delivering our mission.
In 2015, we hosted the Dress for Success Worldwide Conference and proudly welcomed our peers from 20 countries to the Queen City. That was a pivotal year in many ways for our affiliate. The CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide named us as one of the Top 5 Dress for Success affiliates in the world (more than 150 affiliates in nearly 30 countries at the time), we learned of a study done by the Cincinnati Women’s Impact Fund that found when you lift a woman out of poverty, as many as six family members may follow, and that same year, a study released by Harvard and USC Berkeley reported that Charlotte ranked 50 out of 50 when it came to upward economic mobility.
This work in the early days and most recently shepherding it through a global pandemic has been one of the most profound journeys of my life. I am truly humbled by everyone who has walked by my side. You have selflessly invested your time and shared your passion of empowering women to break the cycle of generational poverty and navigate situational poverty. Your contributions have directly resulted in a thriving boutique and career transformation center, and where more than 12,000 women, (and counting), have crossed our threshold seeking employment and career advancement as a means to achieve upward economic mobility and strengthen their families. None of our accomplishments would have been possible without the countless individuals, corporations and YOU believing in the mission of Dress for Success.
As I reflect on this journey, I am exceedingly thankful for every year I have had the privilege of serving as the Executive Director. And what an incredible honor it has been to work with our immensely talented and dedicated staff, board of directors, community advisors, and volunteers – all who have helped make this organization a household name for women’s empowerment.
Our affiliate has and continues to experience tremendous growth and success, and it is well positioned for its next leader and its next chapter. I can’t think of a better time to step aside as the Executive Director and move into a new role with the organization. Over the next two years, my focus will be helping to move the organization to a new home. We will be launching a Capital Campaign and working with our stakeholders to identify and create a new facility that will further enhance the ways we move forward the mission of the organization. And like our current space, it will be one that will immediately let the client know she is in a very special place and surrounded by those who believe in her ability to succeed in work and in life.
Over the coming weeks, I will support the organization’s Board of Directors as we welcome and onboard our new leader and who will no doubt bring a fresh perspective to the organization while continuing to carry on the shared legacy you have all helped build. From the bottom of my heart, I am grateful to each and every one who supported me and our beautiful organization and I look forward to watching this next chapter being written.
Please be on the lookout in January to learn about our new leader, Dr. Emily Wheeler, and opportunities to engage and support her on her new journey.
My sincere and heartfelt wishes to you, your family, and your friends for a peaceful holiday season! Now let’s get ready to SOAR in 2024!
| 
